Pump



Sept. 30, 1941. H. SHARP PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1938 ay-Mia; I

Sept. 30, 1941.

J. H. SHARP PUMP Filed Oct. 12, "1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VII/,2

device;

Patented Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMP John H. Sharp, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 12, 1938, Serial No. 234,587

2 Claims.

My invention relates to pumps and the like and more particularly to pumps or compressors used in conjunction with refrigerating and air conditioning apparatus.

The invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described which is simple in construction and operation, inexpensive to manufacture, very durable and efficient.

A further object of the invention is the production of a pump which will. give a much more constant flow of fluid than the old single cylinder type of compressor or pump. Another object of the invention is the production of a pump or compressor having a plurality of cylinders, without the usual crank shaft, connecting rods and associated parts.

Another object is the production of a pump or compressor of the type described in which mechanical valve mechanisms are eliminated, thus also eliminating any necessity of intricate or close adjustments of valves or the like.

A further object is the production of a pump of the kind described in which the inlet and outlets thereof are oppositely disposed at an angle of 180", the axis of the rotor of the device intersecting the common center line of said inlet and outlet, so that the line of forces on the rotor fall in a plane passing through said axis.

Another object of the invention is the production of a pump in which the parts subject to the greatest wear are self-compensating, thus making repairs and replacements unnecessary.

' Another object of the invention is the production of a pump in which, because of its novel construction, vibration is reduced to a minimum.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from'the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 represents a side sectional view of the Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view of the device taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view taken on the line. 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a more or less diagrammatic view of the development of one form of ramp used in the device;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a different form of ramp;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of outlet, taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 7; and.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the modified form of outlet shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, and more particu larly to Figs. 1 and 2, I represents generally a housing comprising a base or bottom portion 2, side walls 3 having a flange 4 adjacent the edge thereof, and a ,cover member 5, the cover memher 5 being attached to the side walls 3 by means of bolts 6 and nuts I or other equivalent means which pass through the flange 4 and cover member 5. A gasket 8 is interposed between the flange 4 and the cover member 5, thus, providing a sealed housing. Entering the cover memher 5 is an inlet pipe 9 and an outlet pipe ll communicating with the interior of the housing. A shaft l2 extends into the housing, the end l3 of the shaft being journaled in the bearing [4 located on the cover member 5 and is also journaled in the bearing I5 located on the bottom portion 2 of the'housing, this bearing being provided with packing l6 and a gland I! to insure sealing of the interior of the housing. Mounted'ontheshaft [2 by means of a key I8 is a disc or rotor represented, generally, by the numeral I9. The rotor [9 comprises a ring-shaped face portion 2| bearing against the cover member 5. Located in this portion of the rotor is a plurality of bores 22 radially positioned therein about the center of the shaft l2. The inlet and outlet pipes 9 and II, respectively, are so located relative to the bores 22 that the latter will make registry with said ports as the rotor revolves. Positioned in each of the bores 22 is a plunger or piston 23, the latter being of a size to closely engage each bore 22, as shown at 24, the portion 25 of said plunger being of a reduced diameter to allow a compression spring 26 to encircle the same. One end of the spring 26 butts against the shoulder 21 formed by the portion 25 with the remainder of the plunger, the opposite end 28 of the spring 26 being of a larger diameter.

than the remainder thereof and seating in a groove 29, thus retaining the spring in the bore 22. A steel ball bearing 3! is carried by the end of the. plunger 23 extending from the bore 22. Obviously, if desired, any other suitable antifriction device may be employed in place of the ball 3!. To actuate said plungeror pistons, a ramp 32 is provided engageable with the ball 3| or its equivalent;

As shown Fig. 3, assuming the rotation of the Seating against the rotor I9 is a suitable bearing 35, the latter being urged against the rotor by the bearing plate 36 which is carried by the spring 31, the latter thus tending to urge the face 2| of the rotor against the cover 8.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate in a somewhat diagrammatic form the development of the ramp, the same being shown in these figures as constructed in a straight line rather than being curved. Likewise, the inlet 9 and the outlet H are shown in their proper position relative to the ramp.

Referring to Fig. 4, the ramp 32 is designed for use in conjunction with a pump designed to be used with a gaseous medium capable of being compressed. The operation of the device is as shown and for illustrative purposes, we will assume that the piston or plunger 23 whose cycle we will follow is engaging the flat or level portion 38 of the ramp 32. In this position, the plunger will be in its innermost position in its respective bore, as shown, for example, at 23' of Fig. 4, the rotor and plunger 23' moving toward the right, as shown by the arrow. As the rotor revolves and the end of the plunger, carrying the ball 3i travels along the ramp, there will be no movementof said plunger. However, as the end of the bore adjacent the portion 2| of the rotor begins to coincide with the inlet port 9, the opposite end of th plunger will begin to descend the steep end 39 of the ramp, the compression spring 26 tending to force the plunger out of the bore, and when the inlet port 9 and the mouth of the bore coincide exactly as shown at 39 of Fig. 4, the plunger will have reached the end of its outward travel, and as the inlet and bore 22 are in communication with each other throughout such travel of the plunger, fluid will be-drawn from the inlet into the bore 22. The fluid so drawn into the bore 22 is then carried therein around to the outlet ll. However, as the plunger approaches the outlet port, it will proceed to ride up the inclined portion M of the ramp 32 which will tend to force theplunger into the bore, and as the mouth of the bore and the outlet port begin to register with each other, the fluid will be forced into the outlet pipe as the plunger is urged into the bore, the latter being at the end of its inward travel when the bore and outlet port exactly coincide with each other. The cycle will then begin all over again.

'As the inlet and outlet ports are located on opposite sides of the axis of the rotor, the line of forces on the rotor fall in a plane passing through the axis, and therefore through the rotor shaft. 'If the inlet and outlets were less than 180 apart, the forces on the rotor would tend to twist the rotor and would not be absorbed through the shaft as in the first instance, and would therefore be much more pronounced.

[It will be noted that in the device illustrated, there are twelve of said bores and associated plungers so that for each revolution of the rotor, there will be twelve of the cycles just described. As previously mentioned, the ramp shown in Figfll is designedto be used where 'a "compressible medium is used, the ramp illustrated in Fig. 5 being used Where a fluid medium is employed.

The essential difference between the two ramps is in the portion thereof adjacent the outlet port, the portion 41 as shown in Fig. 4 comprising a more or less gradual incline whereby the plunger begins its inward travel slightly before communication is established between the outlet port I I and the bore 22, thus slightly compressing the gas in the bore 22. However, where a liquid is employed, as the same is substantially incompressible, such a ramp could not be used, and it is therefore desirable to provide the ramp with a comparatively steep portion 42, as shown in Fig. 5, in place of the portion 4| so that the plunger will not begin its inward travel until the outlet port H is in communication with the bore 22, the remainder of the operation of the device being substantially the same as that described above.

While the ramp may be designed as in Fig. 5 for use where a liquid is employed, if desired, the ramp shown in Fig. l may be utilized with a fluid medium provided a slight modification is made in the inlet and outlet ports. Such a modification is shown in Figs. 6 and '7 wherein the outlet port, for example, is provided with a small channel 43, this channel extending toward the inclined portion 4| of the ramp so that communication between the outlet port H and the bore 22 is established before said bore and port begin to come into registry, thus preventing any compression before communication is established.

It will be seen from the above description that I have provided a housing having an inlet and an outlet port, a plurality of independent pumps, each comprising a bore or cylinder and cooperating plunger or piston. These pumps are so positioned in the rotor that each one registers with the inlet port and outlet port during a revolution of the rotor. In other words, as each bore comes in registry with the inlet port, an intake movement of the plunger associated therewith is effected, thereby drawing in a quantity of the fluid, thus loading the bore or cylinder. This lead or slug is'then carried in the cylinderas the rotor revolves until the bore approaches registry with the outlet port at which time an exhaust stroke of the piston is eiTected, expelling the fluid in the cylinder through the outlet port. Each cylinder and plunger complete this cycle in a revolution of the rotor, and it will thus be seen that in any given revolution thereof, there will be transferred from the inlet port to the outlet port a quantity of fluid equivalent to the capacity of one cylinder multiplied by the number of cylinders. Due to the fact that there are a vplurality oi comparatively small cylinders and pistons instead of one large piston and cylinder, the devic requires only a small amount of power to operate it, and is especially adapted for use in small refrigerating systems, air conditioning systems, or the like, where relatively small output is needed, although the same may be constructed on a larger scale if desired. V

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromethe spirit of my invention, hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: t

1. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a housing, a rotor journaled in said housing, a plurality of pairs of bores located in said rotor, the bores of each pair being positioned 180 apart, a plunger arranged in each bore to provide a plurality of independent pumps, said housing having an inlet port and an outlet port therein of approximately the same size as said bores and positioned 180 apart, said bores each registerable with said ports during rotation of the rotor, a coiled spring positioned in each bore yieldingly urging said plungers away from said ports, a ramp engageable with said plungers throughout a portion of each revolution of said rotor, said ramp engaging said plungers as their respective bores approach registry with said outletport and disengaging said plungers as their respective bores approach registry with the inlet port, the intermediate portion of said ramp being of substantially even height.

2. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a housing, a rotor journaled in said housing, a plurality of uniformly spaced pairs of bores located in said rotor, the bores of each pair being positioned 180 apart, a plunger arranged in each bore to provide a plurality of independent pumps, said housing having an inlet port and an outlet port therein of approximately the same siz as said bores and positioned 180 apart, said bores each registerable with said ports during, rotation of the rotor, a ramp for moving said plungers towards said outlet port as their respective bores approach registry with said port, said ramp operative to maintain said plungers in substantially fixed position while passing from said outlet to said inlet ports and of a length to simultaneously actuate plungers at each port and resilient means for urging said plungers away from said ports.

JOHN H. SHARP. 

